Frederick, I completely agree with you that in certain situations I would utilize Big Pharma's solutions, as they can definitely save lives. Unfortunately they work like a mob, manipulating, lying, and defaming legitimate scientists to eliminate the competition.
I agree with all of this... and it sucks
I'm not trying to say I'm right and your wrong kind of thing, but I'd like to point out the irony in someone on cannabis related forums saying Big Pharma would implement a natural solution if it made them money. Yes, it would make them some money, but much much less, and they couldn't control it at all, because people could grow it themselves (Cannabis, anyone?).
IMO, few people would grow their own. Who here has a veggie patch? (but I do see the irony
)
I know there is certainly the "they can't patent it, so they can't make exorbitant amounts of money from it" argument, but that doesn't seem to stop tobacco companies from making the
(I know Tobacco is harder to grow etc, just a loose example)
I guess I don't understand why "Big Pharma" who are after nothing but profits, would prefer NO share of profits from a uncontrolled source, than SOME profits from an uncontrolled source?
(Obviously if it cut into their other profits, that would alter the equation...)
I also don't believe that all "Big Pharma" (which just seems to be a catch all conspiracy theory type name...) are just out for the "patent profits"...
I only seem to see it presented as Ooooh, big evil corporations are being all corporation-y and only looking out for the corporations by corporatizing all these lovely natural herbs.
Its a spectrum, and I guess I may just be naive, but IMO most people are out to do the right thing...
Having said all that, I find the concept that pharmaceuticals are one of (if not the) most profitable industries to be sickening... :sick:
That way they control medicine and make all the money on it. The government gets to import and distribute the high profit drugs like cocaine, heroin and opium (CIA). After all, that's a major part of the war in the Middle East, protecting their Opium. And you better not even think of reducing their profits in the slightest bit, with natural cures or selling illegal drugs. Those are crimes against society!
Yeah, I know there's a lot of fucked up crap going on...
I've heard some pretty crazy stories of US army members being used to protect opium poppy fields...
Well, I admit this article is not very well written. There is no proof that it heals your lungs or helps you quit smoking, and the article wasn't intended to give medical advice on that. If there is a better article on it please post it. I've been looking without success, there's basically nothing on the internet about it except anecdotal reports that it has helped people quit smoking and breathe better.
I have never actually heard of this herb before, it just set off every single one of my skeptical alarm bells.
All it says is that Native Americans traditionally used it for healing.
Honestly, I couldn't care less who used it for however long, I care if it actually works.
It is fact that it contains an alkaloid similar to nicotine, and many herbalists consider it to be one of the most powerful herbs in the world.
That I find interesting.
Even so, unless it actually *promotes healing* I think its disingenuous to claim it does so...
If it an effective harm minimization and quitting tool, then that's great, and it deserves its recognition for doing so, but its not a healing agent (or at least doesn't seem to have been sufficiently demonstrated as so).
This herb can be taken orally or smoked/vaped, and contains 14 alkaloids, one being chemically similar to nicotine and known to release dopamine, like nicotine.
That's Interesting...
Because it contains an alkaloid similar to nicotine that releases dopamine, I believe this has potential as a smoking cessation tool that has proven safety better than scientists can.
I don't understand?
The reason I say this is because it has been used for a very long time traditionally. Keep in mind, there are no safe smoking cessation drugs available at this time. They have extremely severe and life threatening side effects.
Are you saying that this herb is basically the best of a bad bunch of options, and it's better than what scientists can produce?
It just sounded like you said its safer than scientists can prove, which confused me a bit.
I want to hear a report of someone vaping this stuff!
Me too.
(Nothing in this post was meant as offensive/aggressive, sorry if it comes off that way...)